Delivering his State of the Province Address today at the North West Provincial Legislature, Premier
Lazarus Kagiso Mokgosi reiterated that the provincial government remains committed to one of its
apex priorities which is restoring people’s dignity through provision of adequate housing.
Mokgosi said government acknowledges that there has been some short-comings hindering the
government from delivering on its housing mandate, which includes, budget cuts, housing backlog
and blocked projects.
“Progress is being registered in this regard and to date we have spent thirty million rand for the
completion of two hundred and fifteen housing units which were abandoned by contractors, in areas
such as Lethabong, Glaudina, Sekhing and Kgomotso. This project will be extended to Tshunyane
village in Mahikeng where we appointed a contractor in January.”
The department has spent R1.2 billion out of a total budget of R1.3 billion towards these multi-year
projects to date. Premier Mokgosi added that government is aware of the push and pull factors that
drive the developmental path of our province in distressed mining towns and in particular lack of
housing.
“As such, we have committed over five hundred million rand for the construction of one thousand,
one hundred forty-eight housing units in Madibeng, Moses Kotane and City of Matlosana Local
Municipalities where we have also installed bulk infrastructure in more than one thousand, eight
hundred sites.” he said.
With regards to the removal of asbestos roofs across the province, Premier Mokgosi announced
that the asbestos removal project is well in course with forty-three million rand allocated for this
exercise in Madibeng, J.B Marks, Mahikeng, and Ditsobotla.
Furthermore, Mokgosi said government will dispose two hundred and eighty-eight houses of
government that were built on tribal land. Preference will be given to current tenants who are rightful
occupants to ensure security of tenure and orderly regularisation. “These properties are spread
across Bojanala, Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati districts respectively”.
Department of Human Settlements has made a commitment to spent 80% of its allocation on
blocked projects that includes, various multi-year projects across the province, eradication of mud
houses, military veterans housing projects, rural and urban projects, removal of asbestos roof,
installation of bulk services, title deeds programme, and unblocking of blocked projects, while the
remaining 20% will be for new projects.
Ends#
Issued by the Department of Human Settlements (North West)
